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DEPARTMENT OF THENAYV
PROGRAMEXECUTtVEOFFICER FOR
4120
Ser PMA-2681009
1 Mar 16
From: Program Manager, Unmanned Carrier Aviation Program Office (PMA-268), 47123B1,ISe
. ROad. Bldg 2272. Room 254, Patuxent River. Muyland 20670-1547
To: Headquarters. U.S. Air Force Materiel Command. Asset Identification Branch (LOSI)..
4375 Cbidlaw Road. Bldg 262, Room BIOI, Wright Pattersen APB, OH 45433-5006
Via: (1 ) Program Executive Officer, Unmanned Aviation and Weapons (pEO(U&W, 47123
Buse Road. Bldg 2272. Room 246, Pat1lXent River, MD 20670
(2) Office of tile ChiefofNaval Operations. Unm8nned Warfare Systems
(N99,Attn: LCDR Joseph Brogren), 2000 Navy Pentagon Room 5C289,
WashingtOn, DC 203502000
(3) Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, (Code 419OOOB1 20-3,
Attn: Mr. Richard O'Hara), Highway 547,Labhurst, Nf08733-S100
Subj: MISSION DESIGN SERIES REQUEST FOR MULTI-ROU UNMANNED
Ref;
2. Asa result ofa recent strategic portfolio review tbeNavy has directed a reprioritizedmission
set fortb.e previous ''Unmanned Carrier LalDlched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS)"
system which was designated ZRAQ-25A. The UCLASSprogt8ID lias been restructured as a
multi-role Aerial Refueling (tanker) and lntelIigence.Swveillance. and Recotmaissance (lSR)
~ble unmanned air systemand no longer aligns with the ZRAQ--2SAdesignator.
3.. TbeAir Vehicle provides an unmanned carrier based capability as part of a system of~stems
that intepates the fm operational carrier-based, catapult-launched Unmanned Air System
(UAS) with existing aircraft canier (CVN) ~stems and command, control, communications, .
computers. and intelligence (C4I) systems. It will provide robust organic refueling capability
. and along-eodurance Intelligence, Surveil~e, andR.econnaissance(ISR> for the Canier Air
Wing (CVW). This UAS.wiU signiticantlyex.tendthe effective mission ranges ofCVW assets.
alJeviate the current C8rrier Strike Group organic ISR shortfall, and preserve FIA-ISPJF.service .
life. A full~stem description is addressed inencloSlft (1).
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TBD
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"ZMQ-XXA" is a tactical carrier-based (launch and recovery)
unmanned aircraft designed for day or night Aerial refueling
(tanking) and ISR operations.
'Jbe"Z" designation for planning will be removed after a single
eontractot is selected to build them 'Vehicle.
Pase1 0 U
Case 1/11 recovery cycles from a single Air Vehicle. One Air Vehicle will also be able to provide
CVN-organlc mission tanking capability of ~10,000 lJOunds of give after reaching an optimum
tankingproftle. This capability added to the CSG proVIdes a substantial increase In mission
capacity and can also extend the reach of existing CSG capabilities.
ISR MlsslonDescrlptlon. The UAS Is envisioned to be an integral part ofthe future CVW. During
periods of flight when It Is not executing the tanking mlsston, the UAS will be available for ISR
task1ng. As an ISR asset, It will prOVIde the CSG commander an organic, long-endurance ISR
capability. It will be capable of providing Maritime Domain Awareness via SIGINT, AIS, and
End (1)
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EO/IR. The UAS will also be Qpable of performing dedlQtedlSR missions in support ofthe
joint, component, or taskfon:e commander. Sensors 'Ntll be Ct)ntrolled from the CVN-based
UMCS and by various work stations aftoat or ashore depending upon the type sensor. Signals
Intell"ence (SIGINT) control will be accomplished based on the DSO NTTP. Based on the data
collected from Its sensors, the UAS will be capable oftransmitting and receiving tactical data
link tracks, with associated processing and exploitation capabilities aftoat (airborne, surface,
and sub-surface) or ashore.
End (1)
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